Update 25 Mar 2024: 8 new charges for Iswaran, who maintains not guilty plea
Former Transport Minister S Iswaran was handed eight new charges in court on March 25. FOTO:KELVIN CHNG
Former transport minister S. Iswaran was handed eight new charges in court on March 25.
These are under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which makes it an offence for public servants to accept gifts from someone involved with them in an official capacity.
Iswaran said he pleads not guilty to the additional charges, when asked by District Judge Brenda Tan. Iswaran now faces 35 charges in total.
Former transport minister Iswaran surrenders passport after returning to Singapore
The former minister, who was granted $800,000 bail after he was charged on Jan 18, was originally slated to be in Australia from Feb 16 to March 4. PHOTO: ST FILE
Former transport minister S. Iswaran, who is facing corruption charges, has returned to Singapore following his discharge from a hospital in Melbourne. He has surrendered his passport to the authorities, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said on March 20 in response to queries from The Straits Times.
The former minister, who was granted $800,000 bail after he was charged on Jan 18, was originally slated to be in Australia from Feb 16 to March 4. He was given permission to leave Singapore to help his son settle in at a university in Melbourne. Several conditions were imposed, including an additional cash bail of $500,000.
ST had reported that the former minister was warded at the private hospital Cabrini Malvern for respiratory illness, and he was subsequently discharged. He was advised by his doctor not to travel for 12 days following his discharge from a hospital in Melbourne, on March 5. The former minister was granted permission to remain abroad, but he has to report to the police investigation officer daily via video call and provide updates on his medical condition and whether there are any issues concerning his return to Singapore on March 19.
Iswaran advised by doctor to refrain from travelling for 12 days following hospital discharge in Australia - AGC
Following the discharge of former Transport Minister S Iswaran from a hospital in Australia, his doctor advised him not to travel for 12 days, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said on Wednesday (Mar 6).
Iswaran, who faces corruption charges, is currently in Australia, where he is allowed to remain after the court granted him permission to stay on for 16 more days. He is currently out on bail and was initially allowed to leave Singapore for Australia between Feb 16 and Mar 4 to help his son settle into university. Under the terms of the extension, Iswaran must surrender his passport to Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau on Mar 20.
In response to queries from CNA, the AGC said the prosecution was informed on Tuesday that Iswaran had been discharged from hospital that day. Iswaran is represented by a team led by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, which filed an application for the extension on Monday - the final day of the window he was initially granted approval for.
Iswaran allowed to extend Australia trip due to illness: AGC
Former transport minister S. Iswaran's trip, which was slated to be from Feb 16 to March 4, has been extended to March 19. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Former transport minister S. Iswaran, who is facing corruption charges, has been granted permission to extend his trip to Australia by 16 days as he had fallen ill while abroad.
A spokesman for the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said in a statement on March 4 that the defence had filed an application to extend Iswaran’s trip in an urgent mention at the State Courts on the same day. Iswaran is in Australia to settle his son in at university. The trip, which was slated to be from Feb 16 to March 4, has now been extended to March 19. The AGC spokesman said the prosecution did not object to the latest application and has set out enhanced bail conditions that Iswaran has to abide by.
He is required to report to the investigation officer (IO) daily via video call, to update on his medical condition and on whether there are any issues concerning his return to Singapore on March 19. Iswaran, who faces 27 charges and is out on $800,000 bail, is also required to surrender his passport to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau by March 20.
Iswaran allowed to leave Singapore for Australia to help son settle into university
Former Transport Minister S Iswaran, who faces a series of charges including corruption, arrives at State Courts on Feb 8, 2024. (Photo: CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos)
Former Transport Minister S Iswaran, who faces multiple charges including corruption, has been granted approval to leave Singapore for Australia for about two weeks, with additional bail conditions.
The 61-year-old returned to court on Thursday (Feb 8) for the judge's decision on his travel application, three weeks after he was handed 27 charges relating to his interactions with property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. Iswaran was given permission to leave for Australia between Feb 16 and Mar 4 to help his son settle into university. The prosecution had no objections as long as Iswaran adhered to additional bail conditions - including an extra bail sum of S$500,000 (US$372,000) in cash on top of his existing bail of S$800,000.
Top guns on both sides - defence lawyer Senior Counsel Davinder Singh and Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng - were absent in court on Thursday. Their subordinates attended the hearing instead - with Mr Navin Thevar making the application on Iswaran's behalf, and Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jiang Ke-Yue responding for the prosecution.
related:
Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran faces 27 charges including corruption, says he is not guilty
Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran was handed 27 charges on Jan 18, including allegedly receiving tickets from property tycoon, Ong Beng Seng, to shows like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Some of the charges were related to alleged incidents that happened between 2015 and 2021, and included receiving two tickets to a football match between West Ham United and Everton. A court officer told the court the charges were read to him before the hearing.
Iswaran, who was arrested in July 2023 by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), arrived at the State Courts at about 8am on Jan 18. He arrived with his legal team, which includes Senior Counsel Davinder Singh from Davinder Singh Chambers, and did not comment when The Straits Times approached him. The prosecution team is led by Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng, who is assisted by two Deputy Public Prosecutors, Jiang Ke Yue and Kelvin Chong.
related: LIVE - Iswaran faces 27 charges
Iswaran is the first reported person to be charged under Section 165. What is this provision?
Legal experts and lawyers told The Straits Times that no other person here is believed to have been charged before under this Section, which makes it an offence for a public servant to accept gifts from someone involved with them in an official capacity. Of the 27 charges Iswaran faces, 24 of them fall under Section 165.
He is accused of obtaining items worth more than $218,000 – including tickets to musicals and football matches – from billionaire hotelier Ong Beng Seng. Iswaran also faces two charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) and one charge of obstructing the course of justice. The value of the items in Iswaran’s 27 charges is more than $380,000.
Singapore’s corruption case against ex-minister S. Iswaran draws ‘chump change’ jokes, praises for tough stance
One such meme circulating online showed Najib Razak, the former prime minister and one of the main figures of the 1MDB case, laughing with a group of men with the caption, "Iswaran took what? Football tickets?"
Details of former Singapore transport minister S. Iswaran's corruption scandal involving free flights and theatre, racing and football tickets, have dominated the news in the city state but are being brushed off as 'chump change' and 'pocket money' elsewhere in the region.
The items add up to less than S$400,000 (US$298,000) in value. Within hours of Iswaran's appearance in court on 18 Jan 2024, to be slapped with 27 charges on Thursday, 'memes' and 'wisecracks' flooded social media feeds and messaging platforms:
- Many poked fun at what seemed like a long list of items of 'underwhelming' value that he allegedly obtained from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng.
- While some of these as gifts or 'gratifications' - such as a flight on private jet and tickets to West End musicals and a hotel stay at the Four Seasons - are beyond the dreams of most citizens, they pale in comparison with the multi-million-dollar bribes that the region's politicians have been known to pocket.
- Some commentators in the region are bewildered by the 'underwhelming' value of the gifts that former transport minister Iswaran allegedly received.
- Several contrast the case with the 1MDB scandal, with one joking the case would be 'just another Tuesday' in Malaysia.
- Across the border, some Malaysians expressed admiration for Singapore's apparently higher standards of probity. Rajiv Rishyakaran, a state assemblyman from Malaysia's Democratic Action Party, tweeted a table listing all the charges Iswaran faced, along with the caption: 'Now in Malaysia, would we consider this corruption?'
- Netizens responded that the sums involved were 'minuscule' compared with corruption cases in their hometowns, with some describing the amounts as 'loose change' or 'kacang' which means 'peanuts' in Malay.
- 'I think in Malaysia, this is just another Tuesday,' one claimed, while another wrote: 'In Malaysia, a corruption case gets you promoted.'
- Others expressed envy, with one netizen using 'emojis' to voice disbelief at Iswaran's decision to resign from his official posts as minister and member of parliament and from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), as well as return the salaries and allowances he received since investigations began last year.
- Social commenter and former editor Bertha Henson said the amount under these 24 charges was 'small beer for a minister' and they were not 'corruption charges per se but more like someone who broke a code of conduct'.
- Some netizens immediately drew comparisons of Iswaran's case - one of the most 'egregious' in recent decades in Singapore for a political leader - with the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal in Malaysia.
- "These charges seem almost cute, compared with the usual scope of allegations in Malaysia," said Meredith Weiss, a political-science professor at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University of Albany in New York.
While there had been amusement at the alleged sums involved and admiration at the tough stance being taken, among Singaporeans, however, the longstanding controversial issue of high ministerial salaries has also resurfaced in the debate.
Live coverage: Former Transport Minister Iswaran pleads not guilty to corruption and other charges
Iswaran faces 27 charges, including receiving a valuable thing as a public servant and obstructing the course of justice
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The minister, whose political career spans nearly 30 years, was flanked by his lawyers from Davinder Singh Chambers and did not respond to questions from the media as he arrived in court at about 8.10am.
related:
Singapore minister S Iswaran to stand trial in rare corruption case
Transport Minister S Iswaran was handed 27 charges including 24 charges of obtaining gratification as a public servant, two charges of corruption and one charge of obstructing the course of justice.
Mr Iswaran pleaded not guilty. His arrest in July - along with tycoon Ong Beng Seng - shocked the nation. Mr Iswaran and Mr Ong played key roles in bringing the Formula One Grand Prix to Singapore in 2008. Upon his arrest, the minister was asked to take a leave of absence until investigations were completed - while still getting paid more than S$6,000 (US$4,460; £3,500) a month.
Singapore’s transport minister S Iswaran resigns; faces charges of corruption
S. Iswaran, Singapore’s transport minister, leaves the Singapore State Courts in Singapore, on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. Iswaran was charged with corruption, the latest development in the biggest political scandal to hit the city state in close to four decades. Photographer: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The minister resigned two days ago, according to a statement from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The prime minister’s office said that acting transport minister Chee Hong Tat will be promoted to full minister, taking over Iswaran’s portfolio as transport minister. In letters to Lee, Iswaran said he would return the salary he received as minister and allowances as a member of Parliament since the start of the probe in July. “I am doing this even though I reject the charges and am innocent,” he wrote. “So that there is no doubt, I will not be seeking the return of these monies if, as I strongly believe, I am acquitted.”
Iswaran has been accused of obtaining tickets from billionaire Ong Beng Seng to the Singapore Grand Prix, soccer matches and shows in the UK. According to CNBC’s calculations, Iswaran obtained 116 tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix between 2016 and 2022, worth 347,152.10 Singapore dollars ($258,388.78). Race events were not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
Statement by PM Lee Hsien Loong on the Resignation of Mr S Iswaran
The Public Prosecutor has filed criminal charges against Mr Iswaran in Court today.
On 16 January 2024, after the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau had given Mr Iswaran formal notice of the charges, he wrote to me to resign as a Cabinet Minister and as a member of the People’s Action Party (PAP). He also informed me that he was resigning as Member of Parliament for the West Coast Group Representation Constituency.
On 17 January 2024, Mr Iswaran further informed me that he would return all monies received by way of salary as Minister and allowances as MP from the commencement of the CPIB’s investigations in July 2023. Since Mr Iswaran has now resigned, he will henceforth no longer receive any salary or allowance from the Government.
I replied to Mr Iswaran on 17 January 2024 to accept his resignations and acknowledge his decision to return the monies. The exchange of letters is attached.
The Government has dealt with this case rigorously in accordance with the law and will continue to do so. I am determined to uphold the integrity of the Party and the Government, and our reputation for honesty and incorruptibility. Singaporeans expect no less.
Iswaran allegedly received items worth over S$384K from Ong Beng Seng, including private jet flight, musical tickets
In light of the corruption charges against former Transport Minister S Iswaran on Thursday (Jan 18), the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) was asked questions about hotelier Ong Beng Seng.
Aside from the corruption charges, the former Transport Minister is facing 24 additional charges for having accepted from Mr Ong “valuable things” worth more than S$384,000 between November 2015 and December 2022. These include the following:
- F1 tickets worth S$347,152.10
- Plays and musicals worth S$10,693.91
- Flights and accommodation worth S$20,848.03
- Football matches worth S$5,646.94
The former Transport Minister is said to have received:
- 36 Green Room tickets, 5 Boardwalk tickets, 14 Twenty3 tickets and 61 general admission tickets to various F1 Grand Prix events from 2016 to 2022. A number of the tickets he received allowed him premium access to viewing the prestigious races.
- Mr Iswaran allegedly received 40 tickets to plays and musicals in the United Kingdom, including those to Thriller, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; Book of Mormon, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Part 1, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Part 2, School of Rock, Hamilton, Waitress, and Back to the Future.
- He also allegedly received a paid-for trip to Doha on a private plane from Mr Ong worth S$10,410.40 in December 2022, as well as a night’s stay at Four Seasons Doha, worth S$4,737.63 and a flight worth S$5,700 on business class that was paid for by Singapore GP, a company Mr Ong owns.
- Lastly, he received 16 tickets to football matches from 2015 to 2018, including games where the following teams played: West Ham United FC, Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC, and Manchester City FC.
Tickets to F1, Harry Potter shows and football matches: What are the 27 charges Iswaran faces?
Former transport minister S. Iswaran faces 27 charges in total, involving items worth more than $380,000. He is accused of 24 counts of obtaining, as a minister, items with a total value of more than $200,000 from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. Mr Ong is the man who brought Formula One to Singapore. These items include tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix (GP), football matches in Britain and musicals.
Iswaran allegedly obtained the following, either from Mr Ong directly, or through either Como Holdings (UK) or Singapore GP:
- Two tickets to the show Thriller, worth about £200 (approximately S$429.94, according to court documents), around November 2015.
- Two tickets to the show The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, worth about £270, around November 2015.
- Two tickets to the football match for West Ham United Football Club vs Everton FC (Boleyn Ground), worth about £468, around November 2015.
- Two tickets to the football match for Arsenal FC vs Tottenham Hotspur FC (Emirates), worth about £550, around November 2015.
- Ten Green Room (hospitality suite) tickets to the 2016 Singapore Formula 1 GP, worth about $42,265, in September 2016.
- Ten Green Room tickets to the 2017 Singapore Formula 1 GP, worth about $42,265, in September 2017.
- Five boardwalk tickets to the 2017 Singapore Formula 1 GP, worth about $40,000, in September 2017.
- Four tickets to the show Book Of Mormon, worth about £540, around December 2017.
- Four tickets to the football match for Chelsea FC v Southampton FC (Stamford Bridge), worth about £700, around December 2017.
- Four tickets to the shows Harry Potter And The Cursed Child: Part 1 and Harry Potter And The Cursed Child: Part 2, worth about £1,000, around December 2017.
- Four tickets to the football match for Arsenal FC v Liverpool FC (Emirates), worth about £1,100, around December 2017.
- Four tickets to the show Kinky Boots, worth about £300, around December 2017.
- Six Twenty3 tickets to the 2018 Singapore Formula 1 GP, worth about $13,193.10, in September 2018.
- Thirteen general admission tickets to the 2018 Singapore Formula 1 GP, worth about $16,744, in September 2018.
- Four tickets to the show The Play That Goes Wrong, worth about £380, around December 2018.
- Four tickets to the show School Of Rock, worth about £560, around December 2018.
- Four tickets to the football match for Chelsea FC v Manchester City FC (Stamford Bridge), worth at least £120, around December 2018.
- Four tickets to the show Hamilton, worth about £400, some time around June 2019.
- Four tickets to the show Waitress, worth about £524, some time around June 2019.
- Four tickets to the show Betrayal, worth about £1,080, some time around June 2019.
- Six Green Room tickets to the 2019 Singapore Formula 1 GP, worth about $26,643, some time in September 2019.
- Sixteen general admission tickets to the 2019 Singapore Formula 1 GP, worth about $20,608, some time in September 2019.
- Two tickets to the show Back To The Future, worth about £449, some time around December 2021.
- Two tickets to the show & Juliet, worth about £250, some time around December 2021.
- He allegedly corruptly obtained 10 Green Room tickets, eight Twenty3 tickets and 32 general admission tickets to the 2022 Singapore Formula 1 GP, worth about $48,150, $56,068 and $41,216 respectively, in September 2022.
- He allegedly corruptly obtained an outbound flight on Mr Ong’s private plane from Singapore to Doha, worth about US$7,700 (approximately $10,410.40, according to court documents); a one night’s stay in Four Seasons Doha, worth about $4,737.63, through Singapore GP; and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore, worth about $5,700, through Singapore GP.
- Iswaran is also accused of performing an act that could likely obstruct the course of justice. He allegedly repaid $5,700 to Singapore GP for the cost of his business class flight from Doha to Singapore that he purportedly took on Dec 11, 2022, at Mr Ong’s expense through Singapore GP.
Corruption probe involving Singapore transport minister
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| CPIB probe into Iswaran completed, case under review by AGC |
The investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) into Transport Minister S Iswaran has concluded, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (Jan 9).
In a written answer to Progress Singapore Party’s Hazel Poa, Mr Chan, replying on behalf of the Prime Minister, said the case is currently being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC). Ms Poa, a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP), had asked for an update on CPIB’s investigation of Mr Iswaran. “I understand that there is much public interest in this matter,” Mr Chan said. “I want to give my assurance that this case will be put through the due legal process.” He noted that CPIB has completed a “robust and thorough investigation”, and the matter is now before AGC. “It would therefore not be appropriate to comment on the matter at this juncture,” he said.
On Jul 12 last year, CPIB first revealed that Mr Iswaran was assisting with an investigation into a case uncovered by the anti-graft agency. Two days later, CPIB said the Transport Minister had in fact been arrested on Jul 11 and subsequently released on bail. Hotel Properties Limited managing director Ong Beng Seng was arrested on the same day. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong subsequently placed Mr Iswaran on a leave of absence. Mr Lee also said in August that Mr Iswaran had his pay reduced to S$8,500 (US$6,390) a month until further notice. Mr Iswaran continues to draw the full annual MP allowance of S$192,500.
